Scottish Junior Cup#Finals
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox football tournament
| organiser = Scottish Junior Football Association
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1886}}
| region = Scotland
| number of teams = 127 (2024–25)
| current champions = Darvel (1st title)
| most successful club = Auchinleck Talbot (14 titles)
| current = 2024–25 Scottish Junior Cup
}}
The Scottish Junior Cup is an annual football competition organised by the Scottish Junior Football Association. The competition has been held every year since the inception of the SJFA on the 2nd October 1886 and, as of the 2023–24 edition, 112 teams compete in the tournament. The cup has an unseeded knockout format with no replays, semi-finals played over two legs, and the final usually played at a neutral venue of an SPFL club.
Since the 2006–07 season, the winner of the Junior Cup Final has qualified for the following season's senior Scottish Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6711023.stm |title=Junior clubs enter Scottish Cup |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2007 |access-date=28 December 2019}}[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7019344.stm Juniors make mark in Scottish Cup], BBC Sport, 29 September 2007 The competition is named the Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup for sponsorship reasons.{{Cite web |title=Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup |url=https://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/news/posts/2022/july/clydebuilt-home-improvements-scottish-junior-cup/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Scottish Junior FA |language=en}}
Darvel are the current holders, having defeated Arthurlie 2–1 in the final on 2 June 2024 at Broadwood Stadium to win the trophy for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Fraser |date=2024-06-02 |title=Darvel Junior Cup hero admits he was rank rotten despite glory double |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/darvel-junior-cup-final-hero-32944599 |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}
Format
The competition is open to all member clubs of Scottish Junior Football Association, and all clubs in tier 6 and below in the Scottish pyramid system on payment of entry fee, subject to the approval of the committee.{{Cite web|title=CONSTITUTION, RULES and CUP COMPETITION RULES 2021-2022|url=https://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/media/2819/sjfa-constitution-rules-2021-22.pdf|url-status=dead|publisher=Scottish Junior Football Association|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731045459/https://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/media/2819/sjfa-constitution-rules-2021-22.pdf}}
Matches which are tied after 90 minutes proceed directly to penalty kicks, and semi-finals take place over two legs. Prior to the 2020–21 season, drawn matches were replayed.
History
The Cup has been competed for since the 1886–87 season, when Fairfield Govan became the first winners. The SJFA purchased an exact replica in 2007, to replace the original which was showing its age.
Auchinleck Talbot are the most successful club, winning the trophy 14 times to date, including three times in a row from 1986 to 1988 and 2018 to 2022 (no team won in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).{{cite web|title=Honours|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/auchinlecktalbot/a/honours-17723.html|publisher=Auchinleck Talbot FC|access-date=24 August 2016}}
The record attendance for a Junior Cup Final is 77,650 for the 1951 final between Petershill and Irvine Meadow XI.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/sjfa/scottish_football.cfm?page=1728|publisher=Scottish Junior Football Association|access-date=24 August 2016}}
In 2010, Linlithgow Rose lifted the Scottish Junior Cup for the fourth time in their history and third in a decade. They now join a small group of teams that have managed to lift the cup more than three times.
Sponsorship
The cup's long-term sponsor, the OVD Rum company, which, as of 2006, had an eighteen-year-long association with the competition, withdrew their backing before the start of the 2006–07 competition. Unlike most other sponsored contests whose names change often, OVD had become so ingrained into the Scottish Junior Cup that it was often simply referred to as the "OVD Junior Cup". The Scottish Junior Football Association announced in 2006 that they would provide the sponsorship and prize money themselves, meaning the cup would be known simply as the Scottish Junior Cup. A new sponsor was found during the 2006–07 competition for the semi-finals and final - Scottish Citylink, a long-distance coach operator. The competition was sponsored by Emirates between 2009 and 2013.{{cite news|title=Emirates back showpiece trophy as first-round draw is made|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/12829428.Emirates_back_showpiece_trophy_as_first_round_draw_is_made/?ref=arc|access-date=24 August 2016|work=Evening Times|date=1 September 2009}} The tournament was without a sponsor in 2013–14, with Barr Construction sponsoring the final only, then the SJFA entered a partnership with Dementia Scotland for the latter stages of the 2014–15 competition.{{cite web|title=Scottish Junior Cup nets Barr as headline sponsor|url=http://www.barr.co.uk/barr-sponsor-scottish-junior-cup/|publisher=Barr|access-date=24 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Dyslexia Scotland to partner the Scottish Junior Cup|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=14366|publisher=Scottish Football Association|access-date=24 August 2016}}
The cup had been without a sponsor since ETHX Energy sponsored the 2015-16 competition,{{cite news|title=Juniors: Paisley firm ETHX Energy clinches Scottish Cup sponsorship deal as Troon ace Colin Spence revels in mouth-watering third-round draw|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/juniors/13934632.Juniors__Paisley_firm_ETHX_Energy_clinches_Scottish_Cup_sponsorship_deal_as_Troon_ace_Colin_Spence_revels_in__mouth_watering_third_round_draw/|access-date=24 August 2016|work=Evening Times|date=4 November 2015}} however in 2018 sportswear company Macron sponsored the tournament for three seasons.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/sjfa/scottish_football.cfm?page=2069|title=Macron unveiled as sponsor of the Scottish Junior Cup|date=2018-08-28|website=www.scottishjuniorfa.com|access-date=2019-08-21}}
Finals
- (R) = Won after a replay/2nd replay.
- (aet) = Result after extra time.
- (P) = Won on penalties.
{{notelist}}
Club Performance
{{updated|after 2023–24}}
Clubs which are currently members of the SJFA are indicated in bold.
League Performance
{{updated|after 2023–24}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |
| League in which Cup winner played
! Operating years ! Clubs{{efn|Total number of clubs who won the Scottish Cup while attached to the league.}} ! Years{{efn|Total number of years in which a club from the league won the Scottish Cup.}} |
|---|
| Central (I)
| 1931–1968 | 15{{efn|Glasgow Perthshire, Yoker Athletic, Benburb, Athurlie, Cambuslang Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn, Maryhill, Clydebank Juniors, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Shawfield, Blantyre Victoria, Petershill, Vale of Leven, Kilsyth Rangers, Johnstone Burgh.}} | 22{{efn|1931–32, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68.}} |
| Glasgow
| 1895–1927 | 9{{efn|Cambuslang Hibs, Strathclyde, Parkhead, Maryhill, Rutherglen Glencairn, Vale of Clyde, Ashfield, Petershill, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.}} | 20{{efn|1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1904–05, 1906–07, 1909–10, 1911–12, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1917–18, 1918–19, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1927–28.}} |
| Central (II)
| 1968–2002 | 7{{efn|Blantyre Victoria, Cambuslang Rangers, Baillieston Juniors, Pollok, East Kilbride Thistle, Arthurlie, Renfrew.}} | 13{{efn|1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01.}} |
| Ayrshire
| 1968–2002 | 7{{efn|Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Cumnock Juniors, Auchinleck Talbot, Glenafton Athletic, Largs Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers.}} | 12{{efn|1972–73, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1998–99.}} |
| West Region
| 2002–2020 | 5{{efn|Auchinleck Talbot, Shotts Bon Accord, Hurlford United, Beith Juniors, Glenafton Athletic.}} | 11{{efn|2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19.}} |
| Edinburgh / Midlothian / East of Scotland
| 1922–1968 | 8{{efn|Musselburgh Bruntonians, Newtongrange Star, Tranent Juniors, Fauldhouse United, Bo'ness United, Dunbar United, Linlithgow Rose, Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic.}} | 8{{efn|1922–23, 1929–30, 1934–35, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1965–66.}} |
| Lanarkshire
| 1891–1968 | 4{{efn|Dalziel Rovers, Burnbank Athletic, Larkhall Thistle, Shotts Bon Accord.}} | 7{{efn|1897–98, 1900–01, 1907–08, 1910–11, 1913–14, 1944–45, 1957–58.}} |
| Irvine & District / Western
| 1907–1968 | 5{{efn|Kilwinning Rangers, Saltcoats Victoria, Auchinleck Talbot, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Irvine Meadow.}} | 6{{efn|1908–09, 1924–25, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1958–59, 1962–63.}} |
| East
| 1968–2002 | 5{{efn|Bo'ness United, Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, Camelon Juniors, Whitburn, Linlithgow Rose.}} | 6{{efn|1975–76, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2001–02.}} |
| East Region / Midlands
| 2002– | 4{{efn|Tayport, Carnoustie Panmure, Linlithgow Rose, Bathgate Thistle.}} | 6{{efn|2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10.}} |
| Scottish
| 1892–1947 | 5{{efn|Vale of Clyde, St Mirren Juniors, St Roch's, Maryhill Hibs, Denny Hibs.}} | 5{{efn|1892–93, 1916–17, 1921–22, 1927–28, 1930–31.}} |
| Fife
| 1921–2002 | 4{{efn|Inverkeithing United, St Andrews United, Glenrothes, Hill of Beath Hawthorn.}} | 4{{efn|1912–13, 1959–60, 1974–75, 1989–90.}} |
| West of Scotland
| 2021– | 3{{efn|Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock, Darvel.}} | 3{{efn|2021–2022, 2022–2023, 2023–2024.}} |
| Aberdeen & District{{efn|No clubs from the North regional league formed in 1968, or from its successor, the North Region formed in 2001, has won the Scottish Cup or reached the final.}}
| 1901–1968 | 2{{efn|Sunnybank, Banks o' Dee.}} | 2{{efn|1953–54, 1956–57.}} |
| Dundee / Midland
| 1894–1969 | 1{{efn|Dundee Violet.}} | 1{{efn|1928–29.}} |
| Tayside
| 1969–2002 | 1{{efn|Tayport.}} | 1{{efn|1995–96.}} |
| Stirlingshire
| 1893–1927 | 1{{efn|Dunipace.}} | 1{{efn|1905–06.}} |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book|last1=McGlone |first1=David |last2=McLure |first2=Bill |year=1987 |title=The Juniors - 100 Years. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football|publisher=Mainstream |isbn=1-85158-060-3}}
- {{cite book|last=Purdie |first=Tom |year=2011 |title=The Scottish Junior Cup 1946-1975 |publisher=Amberley|isbn=9781445611167}}
External links
- [http://www.sfha.org.uk/ Results of all ties from 1886-1950 at SCOTTISH FOOTBALL HISTORICAL ARCHIVE]
- [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/sjfa/scottish_football.cfm?page=1741 Finals 1887–1956]
- [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/sjfa/scottish_football.cfm?page=1742 Finals 1957–2009]
- [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/sjfa/football.cfm?page=1391 Scottish Junior Football Association]
- [http://www.ersjfa.com/ Scottish Junior Football Association East Region]
{{Scottish Junior Football Association}}
{{Football in Scotland}}
Category:1886 establishments in Scotland
Category:Annual sporting events in the United Kingdom